Iteneary San Francisco to Seattle coastline trip for 12 days
Mar 12th, 2018, 05:49 PM
#1
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Iteneary San Francisco to Seattle coastline trip for 12 days
We want to drive in an unhurried manner to see as much of the scenic coastline as possible and perhaps drive out to Mt. Rainier on the last day.
We could use suggestions as to where to spend our nights under $100 and some good places to eat along the way. We love light houses and grand sunsets.
We will be traveling in mid May.
We could use suggestions as to where to spend our nights under $100 and some good places to eat along the way. We love light houses and grand sunsets.
We will be traveling in mid May.
Mar 12th, 2018, 08:08 PM
#3
I really prefer doing this trip southbound from Seattle to San Francisco unless you live in or near San Francisco. Look carefully at the price of a rental car with drop fee if you are using a rental car and not returning where you rented it.
There are yurts at many of the coastal Oregon State Parks so you may be able to splurge on a higher price hotel on 3 or 4 nights. A couple of my favorite Oregon State Parks with yurts are Sunset Bay (SW of Coos Bay) and Tugman near the Oregon Dunes.
On New Years Eve we were in Coos Bay (North Bend) at a strange motel called the Itty Bitty Inn. On New Years Day I joined 40+ other slightly crazed people with a polar bear plunge at Sunset Bay.
There are yurts at many of the coastal Oregon State Parks so you may be able to splurge on a higher price hotel on 3 or 4 nights. A couple of my favorite Oregon State Parks with yurts are Sunset Bay (SW of Coos Bay) and Tugman near the Oregon Dunes.
On New Years Eve we were in Coos Bay (North Bend) at a strange motel called the Itty Bitty Inn. On New Years Day I joined 40+ other slightly crazed people with a polar bear plunge at Sunset Bay.
Mar 12th, 2018, 09:41 PM
#6
Yurts are round structures about 15' in diameter with a solid floor and a sloped roof that usually has a roof vent that you can open They have a table and several chairs, a bunk bed with double bed on the bottom and usually a futon. The maximum number of people for a yurt is 5. You can't cook inside but at least you have a light and at least 1 electric outlet. They are usually in a group in a regular campground. They have a shower house that is shared among all of the yurts. You carry all of the camping gear except for a tent or trailer.
One thing I hate about tent camping is if it rains during the night and you have to take down a wet tent and put it in your trunk to set up somewhere else in the afternoon.
Places I have stayed in yurts in Oregon State Parks include, Sunset Bay, William Tugman and Champoeg (SHAM poo ee) which is the place where the state was chartered on February 14 1859.
One thing I hate about tent camping is if it rains during the night and you have to take down a wet tent and put it in your trunk to set up somewhere else in the afternoon.
Places I have stayed in yurts in Oregon State Parks include, Sunset Bay, William Tugman and Champoeg (SHAM poo ee) which is the place where the state was chartered on February 14 1859.
Mar 13th, 2018, 07:11 AM
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On the Oregon coast, take a look at the Ester Lee Motel in Lincoln City. Midweek the rooms are under $100 and on weekends are just a tad higher. The owner is a long time friend of mine, and the motel has been around for decades and well regarded.
Mar 13th, 2018, 07:15 AM
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Also, if you can go a tad higher, in Cannon Beach (very nice town!) the Cannon Beach Hotel has a few rooms for $125. We have stayed there and it is a very nice inn and while it does not sit right next to the water, it basically is a 2 minute walk as you just have to pass a restaurant and then you are on the sand. This is a beautiful hotel in a great location!
Mar 13th, 2018, 07:16 AM
#9
Some notes, and sorry if this disappoints you.
1. $100 a night is unrealistic pretty much anywhere along your route, unless you jump on Airbnb possibilities right away. In the Seattle area you'll need to budget $200/night and up.
2. Lighthouses are easy, sunsets in mid-May are very problematic - it's still a (mainly) cloudy and rainy time on the coast.
3. There will still be 6 - 10 feet (or more) of snow at elevation on Mt. Rainier then. The odds are also excellent that everything will be socked in; May is still winter in the high Cascades.
4. Is this in a rental car? Where is home? Have you priced the one-way rental cost? If you have 12 days, you might want to look at some round-trip options (from SF, Portland, Seattle) to reduce the cost of the car.
1. $100 a night is unrealistic pretty much anywhere along your route, unless you jump on Airbnb possibilities right away. In the Seattle area you'll need to budget $200/night and up.
2. Lighthouses are easy, sunsets in mid-May are very problematic - it's still a (mainly) cloudy and rainy time on the coast.
3. There will still be 6 - 10 feet (or more) of snow at elevation on Mt. Rainier then. The odds are also excellent that everything will be socked in; May is still winter in the high Cascades.
4. Is this in a rental car? Where is home? Have you priced the one-way rental cost? If you have 12 days, you might want to look at some round-trip options (from SF, Portland, Seattle) to reduce the cost of the car.
Mar 13th, 2018, 09:59 AM
#11
Mar 13th, 2018, 10:05 AM
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janisj--I disagree for the most part, based on my own personal experiences. Cannon Beach is the most expensive town along the OR coast and there are several places that come in right near $100 a night. Other towns of course have more motels and such and lower prices.
Mar 14th, 2018, 10:53 PM
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For the Portland area, check out the McMenamins properties. Kennedy School is more expensive, but many of the others are closer to $100/night, generally $115 for dates in mid-May.
https://www.mcmenamins.com/stay
But original poster--I do have to ask are you flying to San Francisco and renting a car? Or do you live in California and are driving your own vehicle. Because if it's the latter, I think you should consider Tom Fuller's idea of yurts. Or cabins. There are some private ones in addition to state parks. He's right--that would give you the budget to pay for lodgings elsewhere. You would need sleeping bags, pillows, towels and a couple of good flash lights at a bare minimum. I'm not sure you'd want to go for it if you are flying in.
https://www.mcmenamins.com/stay
But original poster--I do have to ask are you flying to San Francisco and renting a car? Or do you live in California and are driving your own vehicle. Because if it's the latter, I think you should consider Tom Fuller's idea of yurts. Or cabins. There are some private ones in addition to state parks. He's right--that would give you the budget to pay for lodgings elsewhere. You would need sleeping bags, pillows, towels and a couple of good flash lights at a bare minimum. I'm not sure you'd want to go for it if you are flying in.
Mar 15th, 2018, 02:47 PM
#16
The other cheap place I've stayed (both solo and with my wife) is a hostel in Seaside. There are 2 HI hostels in Portland and one HI hostel in Seattle on King St. The hostels and yurts should be in the under $100 range.
Please answer the question about the vehicle you are driving and where you are traveling from.
I once went out to Mt. St. Helens in mid May and had to turn around where they stopped plowing the road about 5 miles short of the visitor center.
Mt. Rainier often has more snow than Mt. St. Helens.
Please answer the question about the vehicle you are driving and where you are traveling from.
I once went out to Mt. St. Helens in mid May and had to turn around where they stopped plowing the road about 5 miles short of the visitor center.
Mt. Rainier often has more snow than Mt. St. Helens.
